Ch.240That Day’s Different NPC. (5)

-THWACK!!!

“As expected, I should say. You dodged that?”

[…You were only aiming for Master Cheonma from the start, weren’t you?]

My father landed lightly on top of Cheonma, who had been pulverized and disappeared by my punch, and immediately began rushing toward me at high speed.

-THWACK! POW! THWACK-THWACK! WHAM!!

[I don’t know how we ended up in this situation, but if I’ve become like this because of a demon as Master Cheonma mentioned earlier, then let’s end this quickly.]

Sharp punches flew at me, and when I blocked them, his whip-like kicks immediately targeted my lower body as if he had anticipated my moves. All of these were the combat techniques of a mountain keeper that my father had shown me when he was alive.

[Jack. This father of yours isn’t pleased that you’re not attacking me like this.]

“I’m not particularly enjoying the prospect of burying my father with my own hands either.”

I understand his concern. Whether he’s worried I won’t be able to finish him off, or that I might get hurt by his hands. Even with his battered face, even without eyeballs, even with his skin rotted away—I seem to understand too well.

-THWACK! POW! WHACK! WHAM!!

[…You’ve become skilled. And that’s not the mountain keeper’s combat technique.]

“Yes. I met an elder of the beast-folk who uses martial arts. I learned these techniques from him. And I quit being a mountain keeper.”

I speak with a bitter smile, feeling like I’m telling my parents I’ve become unemployed, and I sense a slight surprise at my words.

[…Did you dislike being a mountain keeper?]

“No. I think I liked it even now that I think about it. It’s just that life was too hard for Ira and me. If we had stayed, Ira might have starved and died from weakness.”

If I had disliked it, I couldn’t have endured it for three years. I would have quit before recalling my past life memories. Yes, I had actually liked carrying on my father’s profession.

[…Is Ira healthy?]

“Yes. Right now, I’ve temporarily left her to study in a city with an academy called Neitia. Oh, by the way, Father, I quit being a mountain keeper and became an adventurer, and I’ve got many girlfriends.”

[…Many?]

“Eh, many?!”

As both my father and Luxuria, who seems to be hearing this for the first time, express their confusion, I continue with an even more bitter smile.

“There’s a beautiful blonde with blue eyes who’s extremely skilled with a sword, a charming woman with blue hair and striking red eyes who’s incredibly intelligent, and one is a beast-folk—a white tiger. Another is her older sister, a fox beast-folk.”

[Our Jack has quite the complicated love life? Even sisters?]

“Ah. And there’s one more—a golem who says she’ll have a child with me even if she dies.”

[…Jack, it’s troublesome to give your dead father any more confusion than this.]

As my father’s attacks grow stronger as if he’s genuinely troubled, I deflect them appropriately and continue.

“Oh, and you know that demon sitting over there?”

[…Yes, that young lady isn’t the culprit behind this incident, right?]

“She’s not the culprit, but she is the demon who caused the culprit to emerge.”

“Eek?!! W-wait a minute!! I…!!”

[So you’re saying she got involved unwillingly?]

-THWACK-THWACK! BANG! POW! TAK! TAK-TAK-TAK!! WHACK!!

As my father’s attacks gradually speed up as if he’s reading my defenses, I continue blocking them at a similar tempo while continuing my story.

“If I win, I’m planning to take her with me if she says she has feelings for me too.”

“Hic?!!”

[…Six women. This father suddenly wonders what kind of life our Jack is trying to lead.]

“Just to let you know, I’m still single.”

I mean, really. I wonder what kind of conversation I’m having with my father, but I just want to talk about anything and everything without order. I can’t stop that feeling, that overflowing emotion.

[Jack. Now, enough…]

“Oh, right. Ira has made many friends at Neitia Academy. Actually, my girlfriends there are looking after Ira, and they all seem to call her ‘Saera.'”

[…That’s good. Jack, you’re living well like this… I suppose, hmm. The six women part is a bit concerning, but yes. I’m very proud that you’re a popular man. Anyway, as your father, I’ll say this—make sure you take responsibility. Now, enough…]

-THWACK-THWACK-THWACK!! WHAM!! THUD! POW!! CRACK!! THWACK!! POW!!

“Ugh?!”

[Jack?!!]

Pure defense. Is it because I’ve been only blocking, or was my father truly a powerhouse close to my level, reaching Level 1200? Either way, it doesn’t matter. At least, I won’t be broken by attacks of this level.

“Ah. A-and, I’ve also earned a ton of money. I have my own house in Neitia now, and I have nearly ten million cans deposited in a casino.”

[Jack, I get it. I get it, so please stop now…!!!]

“And!! Ira is incredibly skilled with magic and spirit arts!! The headmaster, who’s an extremely powerful mage, called Ira a genius, ugh?!!”

[Jack!!!]

This is maddening. Why are Father’s attacks so heavy and sharp? I remember all the techniques I learned from Father when I was young, and my level and specs are incomparably higher than back then. But just defending is harder than I expected.

[Jack, please stop! At this rate…!!!]

“Don’t worry about Ira!! I’ll choose her boyfriend carefully!!!”

[Jaaaack!!!]

“!!!”

-BOOM!!!

Father’s heavy fist slams down on both my arms, and I take it without stepping back even a single step. This—perhaps Father was truly the mountain keeper of today. At minimum, he might have been stronger than Johnson whom I met last time.

[Do you want to make a father continue attacking his son instead of teaching him? Do you want to make me watch you get hurt with my own eyes?!]

“…You don’t have eyes.”

[This is no joke.]

-Crack.

I’m not joking either; they’re literally knotholes, Father.

Damn it, why is it like this? I thought I’d already suffered all the shitty injustices this world had to offer, but why do I keep discovering there’s another bottom beneath the bottom?

[This is the last, Jack. I’m struggling now. Don’t show me any more of you getting hurt.]

“…Really, can’t we talk just a little more?”

[…If there had been time, if this wasn’t such a situation, then perhaps. But not now.]

Father drops his fists, creates distance between us, and takes a stance. Ah, I know that stance. I’ve always remembered how Father, without knowing this world was related to games, instinctively sensed the system and used techniques.

[Jack. You know this stance?]

“…Actually, even if I didn’t, the current me could block Father’s movements with one hand.”

[…What an insolent kid.]

“Life was pretty tough after you passed away.”

The fact that Father’s figure looks a bit blurry is all because of the black mist. I truly extended just one hand forward, showing my determination to block Father’s finishing move with it. And then.

-THWACK!!!

[Men shouldn’t cry. It makes you look ugly.]

In an instant, Father’s fist arrives before me, gently pushing against my one-handed guard, and when I apply a little force to resist, Father’s body bounces back using that repulsive force. Then, moving like the wind, Father wraps his arms around my shoulders and waist for a back attack. He launches an attack aimed at the back of my head. I know everything without seeing it, and due to my now-too-high level, I know how to counter it. Yes, I should let Father rest now. To show him the grown son who is different from the young me on the day he passed away, it would be filial piety to let Father rest here.

I jump low in place, grab the ground with one hand, turn my body backward to aim my heel at Father’s chin…

“Jaaaaaaack!!!”

-WHAM!!!! CRASH-BANG-CLATTER!!!

[?!!!]

“?!!!”

“Huff! Huff! A-are you okay?!! Are you hurt anywhere?! I saw the undead trying to grab Jack’s head and bite him!!!”

Startled by the familiar voice that suddenly intervened as I was in my low jump position, I fell on my butt without properly breaking my fall. The beast-folk woman, Miho, who had struck the back of Father’s head, now worriedly examines me with a tearful face. I can only blink in confusion. Uh, um? Huh?

“You weren’t bitten, were you?! I heard before!! If you get bitten by an undead, you become an undead too!!!”

“Uh, um. That’s just a superstition? If people turned into undead from undead bites, all adventurers would be undead by now?”

Where on earth did you hear that? This world has undead but no zombie virus, you know? And…

“…Hey, hey. Miho. Your clothes, your chest. It’s all showing.”

“Ah, ah. This… just a moment…!”

Her usual bikini-like bra is completely undone, and her pants are almost entirely open, showing even her underwear—it’s at a level where I’d believe her if she said she came in the middle of doing something. Why is she in this state? And what about Father? Don’t tell me this is the end?!

[…Jack.]

“Oh, Father?!”

“Uh, huh? F-Father? Eh, Jack’s father? W-wait. F-Father-in-law?!!”

As Miho, who has fixed her underwear and pants, cries out in surprise, I see my father’s body twisted grotesquely among the undead corpses.

Miho, just how hard did you hit him? I’d believe it if someone told me not just his neck but everything was broken!

[Your daughter-in-law has quite the strong ha…]

“…Father? Father?!!”

With that, Father’s body could no longer continue speaking. Ha, haha. Damn, to think that Miho would be the one to send Father away. Good heavens!!

“J-Jack? R-really? Was that really your father-in-law?”

“…We’re not married yet, but if we were to be in the future, then yes.”

At my answer, Miho’s face fell as if she’d lost her country, and she began alternately looking at the fallen undead—Father’s corpse—and me. Then she crawled on all fours and began tidying up Father’s remains.

“…Ugh. F-Father-in-law. I-I’m Miho, who wants to be Jack’s conc—no, Jack’s wife. I really didn’t know. I’m so sorry!”

“No… he was already gone, so?”

“…Whimper, d-did I kill him?”

Well, since he died eight years ago, it’s a bit much to say you killed him, isn’t it? I stroked Miho’s head, whose tail and ears had completely drooped, and who still hadn’t finished tidying up, making it awkward to look at her.

‘…And honestly, I’m grateful that thanks to Miho, I didn’t have to bury Father with my own hands again.’

“Purrrr♡? W-why do you seem happier than usual…?”

As I stroked her with gratitude and sincerity, Miho began to purr contentedly, and during this…

[Found you.]

I had not yet noticed the goat’s eyes watching us.